I picked this up because, well, Elmore Leonard died recently and I'd never read anything of his. Holy god, could that man write. I've never seen such fantastic, economical writing. I almost don't care about the story - although it was also fun, as predictable as the story of "incompetent criminals do crime" always is, it's usually pretty entertaining too - just because I want to roll around in the way he can establish character with two well-placed words. (Fortunately this is not the kind of writing that gives me an inferiority complex, mostly because it's impossible to write sf this way.) ( )

Classic Leonard. A super tight read with no inefficiencies. This book reads so effortlessly, that when you are done you wonder how Leonard fit so much in to such a small space. Stick is a country guy who falls in with the wrong crowd, Frank, when Frank misremembers Stick in Court - after Stick had stolen a car from the used lot where Frank was working. A mismatched partnership in crimes ensues between Stick and Frank, as they try tiO implement Frank's ten rules for success and happiness in crime. The duo press their fortunes and forget Frank's rules with complicating consequences. Stick has love in hand and feels it rush out between his fingers. This books shares similarities with Rum Punch ( Jackie Brown). This book is difficult to find compared to most Leonard titles. Well worth the hunt as this Leonard at his fittest. ( )

I read this as part of an online discussion group on what makes a good ending for a novel. Otherwise, it isn't the type of book that I would read ordinarily.

Because I was reading for a writers' group, I noticed a lot about the writing. Leonard's style is very spare. There are no excess words, almost no adverbs, very little explanation. Characterization is done through action, observation, and dialogue. The characters aren't really likeable, but they are understandable, with clear motivation and understandable behavior.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The basic idea is that two guys in Detroit who don't really know each other team up to become armed robbers. They have a plan, and it works, until events start spiralling out of their control. ( )